Welcome to episode 143 of the A List Podcast with A. Sherrod Blakely, Gary Washburn, and Kwani A. Lunis. In this episode, Sherrod, Gary and Kwani discuss Jaylen Brown playing in Ice Cube's Big 3 tournament, Brown and Jayson Tatum working out, Eric Lewis' retirement and more! Be sure to check out the latest episode as the trio breaks down the Celtics schedule and latest rumors!
0:00 Intro
0:26 Jaylen Brown plays in the Big 3 Tournament is good for Ice Cube
7:56 Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum working out together
10:02 This Celtics season is one of the most important in 15 years
12:39 Eric Lewis retirement amid NBA investigation
17:43 Younger referees will be prone to mistakes
19:55 FanDuel Sportsbook
20:33 Celtics 2023-24 schedule
30:31 Are the Nuggets going to be able to replicate their title run again this season?
32:04 Who is going to come out of the Western Conference?
35:19 How does Ja Morant's suspension affect the Memphis Grizzlies?
37:24 Are the Celtics going to sign another wing, and who will it be?
42:37 Would adding TJ Warren negatively impact Sam Hauser?
43:45 Do the Celtics need another big? Will Blake Griffin return?
45:50 Outro
This episode of the A List Podcast w/ A. Sherrod Blakely, Gary Washburn & Kwani A. Lunis is brought to you by Fanduel Sportsbook, the exclusive wagering partner of the CLNS Media Network. NEW customers can bet $5 and get $200 in BONUS BETS – GUARANTEED. Plus, all customers who bet $5 will get $100 OFF NFL SUNDAY TICKET from YouTube and YouTube TV. Now is the best time to join FanDuel! The app is easy to use and you can be on everything from spreads to player props and more! So, visit FanDuel.com/BOSTON and kick off the NFL season with an offer you won’t wanna miss.
21+ and present in MA. First online real money wager only. $10 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets that expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at fanduel.com/sportsbook. Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMa.org or call (800)-327-5050 for 24/7 support. Play it smart from the start! GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234. NFL Sunday Ticket Offer ends 9/18/23. No refunds. Terms and embargoes apply. $100 off NFL Sunday Ticket, not YouTube TV. YouTube TV base plan required to watch YouTube TV. Redemption requires a Google account and current form of payment. Commercial Use Excluded. Subscription renews; cancel anytime.
0:00 Intro
0:26 Jaylen Brown plays in the Big 3 Tournament is good for Ice Cube
7:56 Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum working out together
10:02 This Celtics season is one of the most important in 15 years
12:39 Eric Lewis retirement amid NBA investigation
17:43 Younger referees will be prone to mistakes
19:55 FanDuel Sportsbook
20:33 Celtics 2023-24 schedule
30:31 Are the Nuggets going to be able to replicate their title run again this season?
32:04 Who is going to come out of the Western Conference?
35:19 How does Ja Morant's suspension affect the Memphis Grizzlies?
37:24 Are the Celtics going to sign another wing, and who will it be?
42:37 Would adding TJ Warren negatively impact Sam Hauser?
43:45 Do the Celtics need another big? Will Blake Griffin return?
45:50 Outro
This episode of the A List Podcast w/ A. Sherrod Blakely, Gary Washburn & Kwani A. Lunis is brought to you by Fanduel Sportsbook, the exclusive wagering partner of the CLNS Media Network. NEW customers can bet $5 and get $200 in BONUS BETS – GUARANTEED. Plus, all customers who bet $5 will get $100 OFF NFL SUNDAY TICKET from YouTube and YouTube TV. Now is the best time to join FanDuel! The app is easy to use and you can be on everything from spreads to player props and more! So, visit FanDuel.com/BOSTON and kick off the NFL season with an offer you won’t wanna miss.
21+ and present in MA. First online real money wager only. $10 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets that expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at fanduel.com/sportsbook. Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMa.org or call (800)-327-5050 for 24/7 support. Play it smart from the start! GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234. NFL Sunday Ticket Offer ends 9/18/23. No refunds. Terms and embargoes apply. $100 off NFL Sunday Ticket, not YouTube TV. YouTube TV base plan required to watch YouTube TV. Redemption requires a Google account and current form of payment. Commercial Use Excluded. Subscription renews; cancel anytime.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 The A-List Podcast is brought to you by FanDuel, the exclusive wedgerig partner of the CLNS
00:05 Media Network.
00:06 Hello, everyone.
00:07 Welcome to the A-List Podcast.
00:08 I'm Kwani Lunas, joined by Aishwarya Blakely and Gary Washburn.
00:15 The season slowly creeping upon us, but our first thing on the agenda today is Jalen Brown
00:20 making Big Three history by being the first.
00:24 That sounded so disrespectful.
00:26 You know it's a slow day when we talk about Big Three.
00:28 I wrote it in the rundown, it's already very telling.
00:31 But he's the first NBA player to, active NBA player to play in the Big Three.
00:36 What did you two think about that, first of all?
00:39 I'm just glad he's doing something.
00:42 Keeping himself active, keeping himself busy.
00:44 And yeah, I know part of it went to charity, which is just great.
00:47 And I know Ice Cube, you know, being the businessman that he is, is going to absolutely blow this
00:51 up and make it a bigger deal than it really is.
00:54 But you know, it just keeps Jalen in the news in a positive way.
00:58 And if we're being honest and real, at this day and age in the NBA, if your young stars
01:03 are in the news and it's positive, then you're going to roll with that.
01:06 You're just going to keep it moving.
01:07 So it's cool and everything, but you know, this ain't going to be like the, you know,
01:14 if they win a championship, we're not going to look back and say, "But man, you know what?
01:17 That nine points he got in the Big Three All-Star Game, man, that was it.
01:21 That was the turning point.
01:23 That was the catalyst to all his greatness."
01:25 Nah, it ain't that kind of part.
01:27 Fair point.
01:28 Yeah.
01:29 I'm going to have to disassociate myself with Sherrod on this one.
01:33 I ain't going against Ice Cube.
01:34 Like, I done heard too many NWA records of Westside Connection to be trying to diss Ice
01:42 Cube.
01:43 Not doing that.
01:44 Sorry.
01:45 Sorry, Ice Cube, if you're listening, we respect you.
01:48 Sorry, Cube.
01:49 Big Three, let's go, baby.
01:51 Let's go.
01:52 Ice Cube, I ain't, nah.
01:53 That's that other dude.
01:54 That other dude was hating.
01:55 I'm on Ice Cube's side.
01:56 No, I think it's a good thing.
01:57 I thought it was cool.
01:58 It was in London.
01:59 You know, for Jalen to get some exposure to the league, he came to the games when they
02:08 were in Boston.
02:09 So I think just for him to make a friend, for the league to make a friend to him and
02:14 him to make a friend to the league, I think it's a good thing.
02:16 The Big Three, you know, is trying to, you know, expand.
02:20 And I understand Cube's point here.
02:23 I mean, let's be honest, man.
02:25 We be watching like Cornhole on ESPN and we be watching-
02:28 Cobra.
02:29 Yeah, that slam dunk basketball, the slam.
02:32 Y'all been watching that, Kawani?
02:34 The slam ball?
02:35 No.
02:36 I know what you're talking about.
02:37 I was watching Cornhole at NABJ when I was waiting for my flight.
02:41 It was very-
02:42 And they can't put the Big Three on?
02:44 Like Ice Cube got a point there.
02:48 You know, like we be watching archery and I mean, all types of stuff because the summer
02:55 is slow.
02:56 Let's face it, like we're- Thank goodness college football is starting on this coming
03:02 Saturday.
03:03 The full season kicks off.
03:04 Baseball is kicking in.
03:07 NFL's a week from next weekend.
03:09 Wait, did your school find a conference yet though?
03:12 No, we're close.
03:13 We're close.
03:14 I don't want to talk about it, but we're getting close to-
03:18 Checks in the mail.
03:19 That's what he's saying.
03:20 Yeah.
03:21 Like, I'm going to go old school on you, Kawani, before you're born.
03:25 Like, you're dealing with ACC?
03:27 Yeah, you know me.
03:28 I know that.
03:29 Who's dealing with ACC?
03:30 We about to be dealing with the ACC.
03:34 We don't want to.
03:36 We found a home.
03:37 We have found a home.
03:38 Wait, if it happens, we should rename the podcast.
03:40 The ACC alum.
03:41 No, that's not good.
03:42 But we'll have the ACC tie if that happens.
03:44 Yeah, we'll figure it out.
03:45 It ain't happening.
03:46 That's all you're getting.
03:47 The ACC is give us free.
03:48 Give us free.
03:49 The cow.
03:50 So, just let me know, Kawani.
03:51 Let me know, Sherrod, what I need to bring to the ACC barbecue.
03:52 We uninvited.
03:53 We coming through.
03:54 We the uncle.
03:55 You're like, "Oh, that fool showed up.
03:56 Oh, damn."
03:57 We all going to look around and be like, "You invited him.
03:58 Why is he here?"
03:59 I'm going to be like, "Oh, I'm going to invite him."
04:00 I'm going to be like, "Oh, I'm going to invite him."
04:01 I'm going to be like, "Oh, I'm going to invite him."
04:02 Hide your cash and hide the alcohol.
04:23 Hide the liquor.
04:24 Oh, my goodness.
04:25 We're coming in, drinking everything, borrowing a couple of dollars, and cheating at Domino's.
04:26 But let me know what you want me to bring.
04:30 You know what I'll bring?
04:32 My wife will love this.
04:33 I'll bring the wine in a box.
04:34 I'll be out there.
04:35 The Franzia.
04:36 I'll bring a box of wine for everybody.
04:37 Y'all love that, don't you?
04:38 The wine in a box.
04:39 Wine in a box.
04:40 Not happening.
04:41 Anyway, I'm down with ... I think it was a cool thing for Jalen to play in the Big Three.
04:52 Great exposure for the league.
04:54 The league's been looking for legitimacy.
04:55 I think what happened with the Big Three, unfortunately, for Ice Cube was when he started
05:01 the league, remember, it was supposed to be dudes like Paul Pierce and KG.
05:04 Remember, maybe even, God bless him, Kobe.
05:09 Some of these guys, he was hoping that he would get these like Dwayne Wade and Carmelo.
05:14 He would get these recent retired players who still wanted to hoop, but traveling to
05:19 10 cities in 10 weeks, these guys got plenty of money so they don't need it.
05:25 So it's become a league where it's got like Sherrod's buddy, Dante Green, from Syracuse.
05:32 You got guys in the league that either Earl Clark, guys that didn't have great careers
05:37 or just trying to keep their name in it.
05:40 So the name recognition, and then they started letting in guys who didn't play in the league.
05:45 So you got like, "Who is that?"
05:48 There's a couple guys hooping that never played in the league.
05:50 So I understand Cube's frustration here, because I think he wanted to have a whole
05:55 level, different level of players thinking that this would be a way for the outlet for
06:00 them.
06:01 But those guys, as we know with the NBA salaries, don't really need the money like their predecessors
06:07 did.
06:08 So I think it was awesome for Jalen to step up and to play in this game, give us exposure.
06:15 It was in London, so it wasn't like it was in Buffalo or something.
06:19 I mean, it was a great place.
06:22 I mean, they even got Scal out there doing interviews and stuff.
06:25 So I'm all for Jalen supporting the big three.
06:29 I'm on Ice Cube's side, Sherrod, unlike others.
06:32 I'm down with the Westcott connection, Mac-10, WC, bow down.
06:39 I'm a West Coast dude.
06:41 So I'm all Ice Cube's side, Sherrod.
06:44 Like some of us here, I learn and remember all the NWA songs about what they was going
06:53 to do to fools.
06:54 So I'm good with Ice Cube.
06:55 Man, you ain't about it.
06:56 I'm going to just let him slide.
06:57 He's that dude who's like, "I got your back.
06:58 I got your back."
06:59 While he's walking back.
07:00 While he's walking back.
07:01 Like, "I'm going to just let you slide."
07:02 Oh, damn.
07:03 Dude, I didn't see that.
07:04 Oh my goodness.
07:05 Oh, OK.
07:06 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:07 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:08 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:09 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:10 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:11 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:12 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:13 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:14 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:15 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:16 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:17 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:18 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:19 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:20 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:21 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:22 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:23 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:24 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:25 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:26 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:27 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:28 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:29 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:30 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:31 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:32 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:34 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:35 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:36 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:37 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:38 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:39 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:40 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:41 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:42 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:43 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:44 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:45 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:46 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:47 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:48 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:49 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:50 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:51 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:52 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:53 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:55 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:56 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:57 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:58 I'm going to just let you slide.
07:59 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:00 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:01 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:02 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:03 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:04 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:05 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:06 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:07 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:08 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:09 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:10 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:11 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:12 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:13 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:14 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:16 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:17 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:18 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:19 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:20 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:21 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:22 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:23 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:24 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:25 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:26 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:27 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:28 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:29 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:30 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:31 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:32 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:33 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:34 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:35 I'm going to just let you slide.
08:37 Jason came back from the Olympics.
08:39 He went to Vegas.
08:40 He put the gold medal around Jalen's neck.
08:42 They took a picture.
08:43 They want each other to succeed.
08:45 I talked to Jason a couple weeks ago at the Hall of Fame.
08:48 He said it was a no-brainer for Jalen to sign his contract extension.
08:53 So, they want to win a championship.
08:54 They know how important each other is to their success, right?
08:59 Because at this point, the only thing stopping those guys from greatness is a championship.
09:04 Jason knows how big it is.
09:06 Jalen knows how big it is.
09:08 I think it's awesome for them to be working out with Drew Hanlon and just getting some work in together.
09:16 I'm sure they'll have guys in Boston in a couple of weeks because that's when guys start getting to Boston,
09:24 getting their places together, and getting everything settled for the season.
09:28 And they'll be up at Auerbach Center on their own working out.
09:32 So, I think it's a good thing.
09:34 Is it like, "Oh, they're friends now"?
09:37 They've always been friends.
09:38 I just think this whole concept of they're rivals or whatever, they're not rooting for each other, is not true.
09:47 I can say it for no—I've seen it.
09:50 We've all been there the last seven years.
09:53 I have not seen those guys.
09:55 They're very good.
09:57 So, I think it was a good thing for them to see them work out,
10:01 get on the same page.
10:03 They know how important this season is.
10:05 This is the biggest season in the Celtics in—I can't remember, maybe since the 2008 season,
10:11 when it was Garnett, Pierce, and Allen, and they were going for a chip.
10:15 And they went all—Danny pushed all the chips in to get that chip.
10:20 This might be the biggest season in 15 years.
10:23 Yeah, I mean, I would agree with a lot of that.
10:27 But the thing that I think is starting to set them apart is, for the longest time,
10:33 they tried to push back whenever they were asked about their relationship.
10:37 And then it got to a point where they just basically didn't give a damn.
10:40 And now they realize that, yeah, you kind of need to give a damn about this,
10:45 because it does matter to your base.
10:47 And that's really what that video does.
10:49 It plays to their base.
10:50 And they know their base wants to see them together doing things as a unit.
10:55 I love the fact that there's this, like, this outward perception of tension between them,
11:00 because I think for them, it only amplifies the chip that they each have on their shoulders.
11:08 I think they go into situations thinking that, oh, people don't think we can get along,
11:11 or people don't think we can play together.
11:13 Let's just go out and get this series win.
11:16 Let's go out and bust Giannis.
11:17 Let's go out there and give these other teams a business.
11:21 And let's just show these people that we can not only play together, but we can win together.
11:24 And that's really what this comes down to.
11:27 It ain't about whether you can put up 25 or 30 each.
11:30 Can you win a championship?
11:32 That is what this all comes down to.
11:34 And I think, to your point, Gary, I think you're right.
11:37 I mean, this is the best opportunity I think they've had in terms of their roster,
11:42 in terms of motivation, in terms of experience and all those things to win a championship.
11:47 And, you know, he's not going to play a single minute of the game, but I'm saying it right now.
11:52 Sam Cassell's imprint on this team is going to be significant for them to win a championship.
11:59 You know, he was out in Colorado working with Derek White, you know, and that --
12:04 little things like that may not seem like that big a deal, but we all know Sam IM.
12:08 Sam IM got a little edge to him.
12:10 He got a little grit and grind to him, and they need someone within that coaching staff
12:15 who not only has that part of their DNA, but has won not one, not two,
12:20 but three championships playing that style of basketball.
12:24 So Jalen and JT's relationship, it's going -- there's always going to be, I think,
12:30 a little bit of tension there, but figuring out ways to amplify that
12:33 and putting the right people around them to amplify it even more than they will, that's huge.
12:39 Well, on the note of championships, this is like NBA Twitter at its peak,
12:44 but I'm sure the two of you saw that Eric Lewis, the NBA ref, is actually retiring
12:50 in light of the investigation into an alleged burner account
12:55 and allegedly also being a Celtics fan.
12:58 This is just a wormhole of content, but what do you two think about the investigation itself,
13:05 and what do you think it means for the landscape of refereeing in this game?
13:11 You're muted.
13:12 Wow.
13:13 I'm not going to touch on Eric Lewis as a Celtics fan.
13:17 I will say this.
13:18 I have had conversation with Eric Lewis.
13:22 He's a good dude.
13:23 I genuinely like him as a person, but this is the kind of stuff that when you get into this game,
13:29 you've got to be smarter than that.
13:31 You've got to be smarter than to allow yourself to get caught up in situations that you know if this gets exposed,
13:36 what's going to happen.
13:37 You're going to be burned badly.
13:41 I think the investigation is going to run its course.
13:43 I think the fear that everyone has is that whatever revelations they come up or they come out of this with,
13:50 will those revelations lead to a domino effect?
13:54 Not the same as the Donahue stuff, clearly.
13:58 But that being said, are there others like him who've got a bias towards another team?
14:05 The thing I'm surprised we haven't seen yet is what's the Celtics record when Eric Lewis is officiated?
14:11 There was an article where the account – I can't even say that I went and looked this up,
14:16 but someone said that there were 54 and 29 games that he officiated.
14:21 I remember when that played out during the playoffs when people saw that account and they were like,
14:25 this is obviously a person that's defending themselves.
14:28 But because he decided to retire, I don't think the NBA, if they even started the investigation,
14:34 they're going to continue to go digging into it.
14:36 They probably already know at this point.
14:38 If he's walking away from the game, it's more likely than not that they'll just kind of look the other way and just say,
14:48 he's gone, so what can we do?
14:50 Why are we investigating someone who's no longer a ref?
14:53 That was their statement today on Wednesday, so that's the context for it, by the way, if people didn't realize.
14:59 I'm curious what Gary Washburn's thoughts are on this, because he hates referees.
15:03 That's what I heard. I heard he hates refs, but you know.
15:07 Whatever, man. I didn't really ever – I mean, Eric Lewis was always, to me, a solid official,
15:14 not one of the greats, but the best, but definitely not someone that you were like, oh, it's Eric Lewis.
15:21 There's guys around the league and some ladies around the league that when you see them, you're like,
15:26 OK, this is going to be some interesting calls or there's going to be a tech here or two or a strange review or whatever.
15:38 I always thought Eric Lewis was a respectable official.
15:43 I don't know why he developed his burner account to kind of defend some of his calls.
15:48 Allegedly.
15:50 And I think the NBA – which I don't think is the most heinous thing, obviously.
15:57 This is not a Donahue situation where he's betting on games or anything like that or anything to that effect.
16:04 But I do think in this day and time, the NBA just wants nothing to do with burner accounts, social media, referees.
16:13 You've got to take your ball and you've got to go home.
16:15 You have to accept your victories and also your mistakes in terms of being official.
16:21 There's calls you're going to get, calls you're going to miss.
16:24 You cannot listen to somebody's, oh, well, the Miami Heat's 31-13 with such and such as the lead official.
16:32 Like, if you get into all that as an official, you know, you're losing your edge.
16:38 You've got to be better than that.
16:40 So, I mean, Eric Lewis is a good longtime official.
16:45 You hate to lose a quality official because I think what's happened over the last several years is a lot of the good quality officials have retired.
16:54 Steve Javis and Joey Crawford and Sherrod's buddy, the Fonz.
17:01 What's his name?
17:04 Ken Mauer, man.
17:06 Ken Mauer.
17:07 That's my guy.
17:08 That's my guy, man.
17:10 Ken Mauer and, you know, there's--
17:12 E.
17:13 Yeah.
17:14 Monte McCutcheon.
17:15 There's guys who have retired, so there's been an influx of younger officials.
17:19 And I'm talking about like, I mean, it's got to be funny, Quanie, like younger than you.
17:24 Like, you know, like younger.
17:27 Ain't even--ain't seen 30 yet.
17:30 I'm not 18, I'm on this podcast.
17:32 Yeah, I'm just saying.
17:34 I know.
17:36 So what happened--
17:38 She's a young OG now, by the way.
17:39 She's a young OG.
17:40 She is getting to be the young OG status.
17:43 So there's an influx of young officials who are making mistakes because they're young and they're going to be good, but there's a lot of what--there's a lot of what's happening is the players are having difficulties with the 30-somethings being officials because the respect level isn't quite there yet.
18:01 They don't--they're not going to--they're not going to test the veteran guys, but they're going to test the young officials.
18:07 And some of the young officials are going to cave into that, call quick tech.
18:11 You know, you've got to, you know, like remember the Jason Tatum where he slammed the ball after a foul and he got a tech for it, but he was mad at himself.
18:21 Like, it was--like, there's--incidents are going to happen like that until these referees start maturing.
18:28 And they know what they need to do and they get more of a tolerance.
18:32 So it's sad to see Eric Lewis go because he's a quality veteran official, but just like the players, a lot of these officials are getting out the game too.
18:42 And, you know, there's going to have--there's just going to have to be an adjustment because if you look at the referees media guide and look at some of the birthdates, I mean, these guys, a lot of gals are under 30, 40 average, 27, 28.
18:55 Like, they're young.
18:56 They're born in the '90s.
18:57 I'm not being funny with that, but you always saw the official from back in the day as some crotchety 62-year-old, you know, "That's a--that's a spot."
19:07 Like, no, these folks are 29, 30, 32, right?
19:11 They're getting their--cutting their chops at college ball in the G League.
19:15 So we just have to wait for this transition to come where the referees get more experience.
19:21 But, you know, unfortunately for Eric, it's not like he got kind of a sensitive skin.
19:26 And as we all know, you can't listen to social media.
19:30 You can't listen to your haters like that and respond too much, and especially not a burner account.
19:36 So good luck to Eric.
19:38 Maybe he gets--maybe he goes to college ball.
19:41 Maybe he, you know, gets a job in the league or whatever.
19:45 But you hate to lose a quality official.
19:48 Get ready for the NFL season with incredible offers from FanDuel, America's number one sports book.
19:54 Right now, new customers can bet $5 and get 200 in bonus bets.
19:59 Guaranteed. That's guaranteed.
20:02 Plus, all customers who bet $5 will get $100 off NFL Sunday ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV.
20:09 Now is the best time to join FanDuel.
20:12 It absolutely is.
20:13 The app is easy to use, and you can be on everything from spreads to player props.
20:17 And more!
20:19 So visit fanduel.com/boston.
20:21 Kick off the NFL season with an offer you won't want to miss.
20:25 FanDuel, official partner of the NFL.
20:28 Fair point.
20:33 Let's get into the new schedule.
20:35 The Celtics' 2023-2024 schedule dropped last week, and there are a lot of games that are going to be circled.
20:43 Every year you have a game that's going to be circled, a few games that are going to be circled.
20:47 Season opener, they're playing at MSG.
20:49 The home opener is a rematch with the Miami Heat, which is already going to be a spicy one, pun intended.
20:56 But Marcus Smart returning to the TD Garden in February.
20:59 I think that's probably one of the bigger ones that's highlighted, just because of the fact that Marcus would have been with the Grizzlies for a minute at that point.
21:07 He'll get his video. There'll be a lot going on.
21:09 But one, what do you think, what are you looking forward to from that game specifically?
21:13 But are there other games from obviously the Lakers is another one as well.
21:17 But what game stands out to you two the most and for what reason?
21:22 The Marcus Smart return game is going to be a big one because I think Memphis is going to be one of the better teams out west.
21:30 And if you're the Celtics, you've got to really start looking a lot closer at those top tier teams in the Western Conference.
21:36 As teams, you may see if you get to the point in the season, end of the day where you want to be, which is an NBA finals.
21:43 But Marcus Smart, he's going to do like most former Celtics do when they come back.
21:46 He's going to play a hell of a game. He's going to put up big numbers and he's going to make he's going to have one of those, you know, one of those kind of nights, I think.
21:55 The game I'm looking forward to and you touched on it, Kwon, is just that opener.
21:59 I'm curious to see how is this team going to come out the gates?
22:02 Those first two or three games I'm looking forward to seeing because you've got a new addition in Porzingis.
22:08 You've got Tatum and Brown in a little bit more expanded role in terms of leadership and things like that.
22:14 You've got a bench that we really still don't have a sense of what that's going to look like in terms of how they play.
22:20 And you're playing a New York team that if you're talking about playoff potential opponents, they're legitimate first round opponents.
22:26 You might see Brunson, who I think many of us agree is probably going to be an all star this year.
22:32 How is he? How are you going to deal with that guy? And then some of the other pieces.
22:37 So the opener against the Knicks, that's the game I'm really looking most forward to seeing simply because I think it really has the potential to kind of set the tone for what this team needs to do in order to win a championship.
22:50 Yeah, I like I mean, obviously the Marcus return game will be big. It's going to be a Sunday night.
22:56 And I see Tel Aviv's game, you know, so it'll be a big deal.
23:01 I mean, the schedule is not easy. Nine of the first 14 are on the road.
23:06 It's an interesting schedule. Two games at Philadelphia a week apart.
23:11 You know, so they have done with Philadelphia on the road on November 15th.
23:16 I mean, they're done with the Sixers at Toronto and at Brooklyn.
23:20 So they're getting all their it's funny, like the first couple of weeks, they're really cleaning up on all those division road games.
23:27 They're going to have a lot of home games on the second half of that schedule.
23:33 And in the Christmas Day game at L.A., I think, I mean, you know, me being a native Angeleno, it's always been a big deal to have Christmas.
23:43 But that's a thing. Celtics, Lakers on Christmas. I don't know if they've ever played on Christmas.
23:48 I know they've both played at the same Christmas Day, but I don't know if they've ever played against each other.
23:54 I'd have to do research on that. I think that's a huge deal. Just the Celtics, Lakers at the Staples Center, where it was now crypto dot com arena on Christmas Day.
24:04 And then that trip, Golden State, SAC, tough game, Clippers and then Lakers.
24:10 So four game road trip. Very difficult on that.
24:18 And then some of the you know, I just think the interesting that into the season, like long road trip where they go to Detroit, Chicago, to Atlanta, New Orleans and Charlotte.
24:29 That could be a key trip. They have six their last seven at home.
24:34 So a lot of road game, long road trip, Cleveland, Denver, Phoenix, Portland, Utah in March.
24:39 So they got their work ahead of them. Well, the cutoff for them, I should say.
24:43 So I think it's a unique schedule and a lot of challenging teams.
24:49 Right. Like Gerard said, New York and Miami.
24:52 Then that tricky game at Washington where the Wizards ain't going to be as bad as people think because they got Kuzma and Jordan, you know, Jordan Poole now.
25:02 Indiana and Brooklyn and Minnesota and Philadelphia. So a lot of good challenging games to start the season.
25:10 Like I said, I'm intrigued about that game at home against Miami.
25:13 Do they you know, we don't know what the heat are going to bring. Is Lillard going to be in that game?
25:19 Is it just going to be who's playing for the heat? We don't know. Right.
25:23 So is it going to be Tyler here on that game or is that who's going to be playing for Miami?
25:29 Because they haven't done anything in the offseason. But if I'm the Celtics, I'm mad.
25:33 I'm slapping them that game trying to prove a point in the next two.
25:37 Like they lost three out of four last year to the Knicks. They lost to the Heat in the playoffs.
25:42 Like make a statement, come out like they did last year and start punching fools in the mouth first.
25:48 Get yourself together. Get that number one seed like and keep it going.
25:54 That's what I think they need to do. So not but not in the first 14 on the road.
25:59 Difficult schedule to begin with. And I did some research while you were talking.
26:03 The Celtics last played the Lakers on Christmas in 2008.
26:08 Before that was 1970. The Celtics lost the one in 2008.
26:14 The Lakers also won. Actually, the Lakers are. Undefeated on Christmas against the Celtics.
26:24 I'm reading something else happened in 2008, too, though.
26:28 Yes, but that was in technically going by the date the Celtics had won.
26:34 They won a chip before that. Yeah, but they wanted to count.
26:38 And that calendar year and that calendar year, they got that chip.
26:41 That's that who research Gary we talk about in the county. You see in the county.
26:45 You didn't want to chip. Food research brought to you by the A-List podcast.
26:50 Oh, boy. It's your fault. You started it. Right.
26:55 Well, we're just anyway. Moving on. Yeah.
26:59 Quani, what do you think of the schedule? What's your thoughts?
27:02 I like the schedule, obviously. I always like the schedule.
27:05 I think the game that stands out to me, the obviously every game in the East stands out.
27:11 But those two Philly games you mentioned are going to be interesting.
27:14 Those aren't like big circle on your calendar, but just curious to see what exactly Philadelphia is going to do.
27:20 We've talked about them over the last few weeks as well.
27:23 But just the East's figuring out who's going to come out.
27:27 I think every season we've gotten to a point where we know that the Celtics are the better team,
27:33 but someone ends up sneaking up behind them and improving that they want it more.
27:37 So I think just at the beginning of the first half of the season, figuring out weeding out the Eastern Conference.
27:43 Is the Miami Heat going to be as good as we think they are?
27:46 Is Milwaukee going to continue to keep up with their momentum? What's Toronto doing?
27:51 The Knicks, maybe they're going to be a team that finally surprises everyone, including Spike Lee.
27:56 So I'm just very curious to see what the East brings, because I feel like the West is always going to be like,
28:01 obviously, the dominant conference at this point.
28:05 Yeah, that's all I got. Anything else?
28:08 Selfishly, I'm looking forward to when Minnesota comes to town because Anthony Edwards is a bad man.
28:16 He is a bad man. I love watching him play.
28:22 He's just... They went real close with him, too, actually. I think it was like two weeks ago.
28:27 They did a little video of him talking or something like that.
28:29 He's just got to... And the thing about it, for those of us in the media, he's great to deal with because he's got a personality
28:35 and he's not trying to like filter it to fit into whatever news hole you're trying to create.
28:41 He's just going to be him. So much respect to Anthony Edwards.
28:45 January 10th, Charati come to the Garden.
28:47 I'm going to be there. Trust. Trust. They play at Minnesota before that.
28:51 Yeah. Like November or something. But November 6th, I think.
28:55 But yeah, I'm a big Anthony Edwards fan. Big fan.
28:59 And we also can't... And we didn't talk about the E-May game. E-May, January 13th, Saturday night.
29:06 I might be there for that one. And the Nugget.
29:09 E-May's return game. That's going to be interesting.
29:12 Does he get a video? That's a nice...
29:14 He doesn't get a video. Oh, hell no. Hell no.
29:17 I want him to get it so badly. I will never know.
29:22 What kind of video you want? I don't know.
29:25 What kind of video you talking about?
29:28 Can she elaborate on this video? Please try that.
29:31 What video you mean? What kind of video would you like for the fans to watch?
29:38 I should be with him walking up and down.
29:41 Kwanye is trying to walk away from this. And Gary's just like, hold up.
29:44 Hold up. Kwanye, what you talking about a video?
29:47 Anyway, moving on. You want a video?
29:49 The Denver Nuggets? I'm sure there's videos out there.
29:52 Oh, boy. Did he go there? He went there.
29:56 What kind of video? I mean, Kwanye, be specific.
29:59 I meant a tribute. You don't want to say video.
30:03 Because the running joke is that when players or coaches come back, they get a tribute.
30:07 You know this. He knows that.
30:09 I'm not saying it right now. A tribute for what?
30:13 Trying to embarrass her in front of her mama, Gary. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.
30:16 A tribute for what? It was a joke.
30:19 He does not get a tribute video for those that did not understand the joke.
30:23 Oh, boy. That's why we're not letting you on the conference.
30:27 That's why Cal can't come to the conference. That's exactly why.
30:29 Because y'all keep disrupting people.
30:31 Denver Nuggets. Are y'all looking forward to that game in, I believe it's January.
30:35 No. No? No. I'm not.
30:38 Jokic is going to do what he does.
30:40 Whether it's Denver, Boston, Milan, or USA, he's that good.
30:44 And Denver, I think it's going to be really tough to defend that championship.
30:50 Because talent-wise, I just think everything came together in a perfect storm for them last year.
30:56 They had the right matchups at the right time.
30:58 They had their guys healthy.
31:00 And it's hard to replicate that type of synergy when you don't have a team that is head and shoulders better than others.
31:07 And they're not. They're a good team.
31:09 And they deserve to win that championship.
31:11 They earned it.
31:12 But they're not head and shoulders better than anyone in the NBA.
31:15 Where you can just look at them when you talk about the top teams that are legitimate title contenders.
31:19 Denver, I don't believe, can just roll, walk out there and win a championship.
31:24 They're going to need some things to break their ways.
31:26 Just like for the Celtics to win a championship, some things are going to have to break their ways as well.
31:30 So I'm looking forward to it from the standpoint it's the game that will be up at that point in the schedule.
31:36 But I don't think it's like a defining type of if they win, they're going to win a championship.
31:40 If they lose, they're done.
31:42 I don't get that vibe from that game.
31:44 And I don't think there's any messages that win or lose you can take away from that game.
31:50 Because I don't think Denver's going to be there, to be honest, out West.
31:55 I don't think they're coming out the West.
31:56 Who's coming out the West, Sherrod?
31:58 I want Memphis to come out the West.
32:02 That's who I want to come out.
32:04 But I -- as much as it pains me to say, the Lakers seem like they're built for that.
32:12 I think to make a deep playoff run, but they're going to need some breaks.
32:15 They're going to need LeBron to just dial it back a couple years health-wise and Anthony Davis to be the anti-Anthony Davis.
32:22 Listen, Anthony Davis Hall of Famer needs to be on the floor, not street clothes Anthony Davis, because that dude is not good.
32:32 They're going to be in the mix.
32:34 But, I mean, I want Memphis, but I think L.A. will probably come out of the West.
32:40 What about you, Gary? Who you got coming out the West?
32:42 That's a good question.
32:44 Because a lot of --
32:46 That's because you asked.
32:47 Yeah, I mean, we haven't talked about the Phoenix Suns.
32:51 I was going to say, why didn't you mention the Suns?
32:53 The big three, I mean, is that going to work out?
32:55 They don't have a lot of depth, but quite honestly, they could be a great team.
33:01 You know, we'll see how KD, Beal, and Devin Booker work out the Clippers.
33:06 Do they have one final run in them with Kawhi and George -- you know, Paul George?
33:13 I mean, what happens there? Do they get James Harden?
33:17 The West is wide open.
33:19 Is Sacramento going to make -- are they going to be better than they were last year?
33:23 What about Golden State with Chris Paul?
33:25 So I think the West is very competitive.
33:28 Right now, I've got to say, you know, probably, like you're right, Sharrod,
33:33 I think the Lakers could probably be maybe considered in the favorites because they brought everybody back.
33:38 Austin Reeves playing great ball in FIBA.
33:42 Achi Mora.
33:43 I mean, they brought --
33:50 you know, they added to that roster in training camp.
33:53 So I think the West is going to be as competitive as ever,
33:56 and I think if you look at the Denver Nuggets, they lost Bruce Brown.
34:00 They lost Jeff Green.
34:03 So they're going to need Christian Braun to step up, and a young guy who I happen to know through a family friend,
34:12 Peyton Watson, a kid from UCLA who kind of was maybe redshirted last year,
34:18 played some G League, and he's going to have to have a breakout year
34:21 and help them come off the bench and kind of take that Bruce Brown role.
34:24 So they got some young guys ready, so we'll see how that goes.
34:28 But I've got to say the Lakers, I guess, need to see Golden State.
34:32 I think we all need to see Golden State and how they work out with Paul, without Jordan Poole, whether that works.
34:38 Sacramento, I think, is a sneaky team.
34:41 I don't think they're going to be -- I don't think they're going to rest on their laurels and just say,
34:45 "Oh, we made the playoffs. We're good."
34:48 But being better, the hardest thing is we know following the Celtics is going from good to great.
34:53 That's the hardest step to make is the good to elite.
34:58 So I think the West is going to be treacherous.
35:02 It's going to be very fun.
35:04 And then who knows, our friend Kyrie and Luca in Dallas.
35:09 You don't say -- nobody believe in Dallas.
35:13 And y'all room for Memphis?
35:16 As long as John don't act a fool, I think they're very competitive.
35:21 But he's going to miss the first 25 games.
35:24 How far does that put them back, missing a third of a season?
35:29 That's a bad thing.
35:31 How far does that put Marcus forward with kind of reigning in the team and finally having something he can take control of?
35:38 Yeah, they're going to be a much more defensively foundational team in those first 25 games.
35:45 And then it becomes a matter of John coming back and reintegrating himself into what I think is going to be a good team.
35:51 I think -- I would not be surprised.
35:53 Worst case scenario for me for those 25 games John's out is 15 and 10.
35:58 I think they'll be closer to 20 and 5 than 15 and 10.
36:00 They'll be somewhere in there.
36:01 20 and 5?
36:02 Oh, I think they're going to be good.
36:04 I think they're going to be good because they got dogs now.
36:08 They got dogs with attitude and edgy.
36:10 You don't think Marcus Smart is chomping at the bit to get back out there and show that the Celtics screwed this up?
36:16 Yeah, I agree.
36:18 You don't think when they play, like, the Celtics he is going to be all up and Malcolm Broad this jersey?
36:23 Like, you know what it's going to be like, Gary?
36:26 Remember Jay Crowder and Gordon Hayward?
36:29 Remember how uncomfortable that got?
36:32 It's going to be that on a much more, I think, calmer base and not as animosity, but the energy, the edge, it's going to be there.
36:42 Because Marcus, that's the dude, that's why I'm not bossing.
36:45 I mean, that's if Malcolm is playing, though.
36:47 That's if he's healthy.
36:49 Yeah.
36:50 Yeah.
36:51 I'm looking forward to this.
36:52 Quanie with a little shade.
36:54 Did you see that, Gary?
36:55 It was more of a still a little red flag of what's his health like.
37:00 Makes a point.
37:02 Makes a good point.
37:03 OK.
37:04 Anyway.
37:05 OK.
37:06 Mama watches.
37:07 I'm going to let it go.
37:08 Good point.
37:09 Good point.
37:10 I think that's all I have.
37:11 Well, I say that's all I have.
37:12 Sharron is the one who wrote the run down, but that's all Sharron has for the podcast this week.
37:17 Oh, so now she went from shooting guard to point guard.
37:19 Distribute.
37:20 I see how she did that.
37:21 I see how she did that.
37:22 No, I wasn't going to.
37:23 No, no.
37:24 Well, wait a minute now.
37:25 Remember?
37:26 They talked.
37:27 Remember they brought in now they haven't signed anybody, but our friend PJ Warren and Lamar Stevens.
37:34 So who do you all think?
37:37 Who?
37:38 OK, so it's.
37:39 It's.
37:40 Who do we think?
37:41 Yeah.
37:42 Like, like my friend Kelly Bray still unsigned.
37:46 He's still out there like there's no one signed.
37:49 Right.
37:50 Our friend Romeo Langford did sign a training camp contract with Utah.
37:53 So good luck to Romeo.
37:55 I want to give it up for him.
37:57 Did you know Javale McGee?
37:59 I saw he's on.
38:00 He's Javale McGee's now out there.
38:02 But like no one's really signed in the last week.
38:07 So now we're getting down to four weeks before training camp.
38:10 Who do you think that they should bring in?
38:12 Did you do you like anything like about Lamar Stevens or TJ Warren?
38:19 And why or why not?
38:23 I want them to sign TJ Warren just because I like TJ Warren.
38:27 I've always loved TJ Warren back when he was at NC State.
38:30 Hell of a score, but he's lost a step or two to say the least.
38:34 I don't know how much value he would get out of him bringing him.
38:37 Stevens has upside.
38:38 Stevens has that that nice balance of youth, but not really young.
38:44 He's he's he's a young, not even a young vet, just a young player with a little bit of experience under his belt.
38:50 Enough to where you don't feel like you got to hold his head and teach him how to play the game.
38:54 I think he could be a guy that could potentially work his way into being borderline rotation guy who can win you a couple of games this season.
39:02 And that's to me, when you look at the guys at the end of your bench, that's what you want.
39:06 Can this guy on on some random night win us a game?
39:10 Does he have that in him? And Stevens, I think, has that that potential in him.
39:14 So he would be the guy I if I could have my pick of the guys that we worked out.
39:19 He would be the guy that I would bring in. Kelly Oubre makes so much sense, Gary.
39:25 That's why I'm going to have to dismiss it, because it makes too much sense.
39:28 It makes too much sense to bring in a guy that you can get for well below his market value because the market for what he does has dried up.
39:36 And so you're going to get a steal if you bring him in. But will he embrace the fact that he would have a very he wouldn't have the kind of role that I think he's looking for at this point?
39:47 Because he's trying to get paid. It ain't going to happen this year.
39:50 So he in his mind, am I better off playing for a championship contender, but a very small, limited role?
39:57 Or should I go to a bomb squad that's going to pay me more than they will and will give me like twenty five, thirty minutes a night to show that I can play?
40:04 That's a tough call to make because because, Gary, I don't like messing with nobody money.
40:09 And if it's like, you know, rotation guy making eight, nine million versus a borderline rotation guy making three, four million on a really good team, I'm not going to fall that due for taking that check.
40:25 So I think that for Kelly, I think that's what this is about.
40:28 Now, who's going to pay me the most money? Because there's enough teams that could use the services that that's not even to me debatable.
40:35 But who's going to pay the most for what he can deliver? And the Celtics, I just don't think are going to be in a position to do it.
40:43 You mentioned like Stevens, I think there's a plus side to both of them.
40:46 But what do you think? Do you think he brings enough defensively to the table that wouldn't fill Marcus's void, but is good enough to at least sustain the Celtics?
40:55 They still need obviously they need more help in front court, but like the defensive presence, who is going to be that guy?
41:02 And do you think Stevens could be that? Well, I think.
41:06 Go ahead, Gary. No, I think. Well, I think Brissette's a guy.
41:11 Yeah, we did talk about Brissette last week. Oh, boy. Yeah.
41:15 It's a guy that they're going to use. Stevens is a little smaller than Brissette, but he's a guy really make a defensive difference, get that tough rebound.
41:23 The only issue with him is his three point shooting. Now, he's not going to shoot a lot of threes, let's be honest, but he's going to get left open a lot at the three point line.
41:32 Chandy hit the knock down at open corner three. Right.
41:36 I think he's he's he's his three ball. I think it's a 31 percent up and down.
41:43 You want him to improve that. To me, he's 25 years old. He's healthy.
41:48 I liked him last year in Cleveland. He was one of those dog guys that you never heard of.
41:53 You probably never heard of him in college or whatever, who's just come and made him a career.
41:59 I like I used to like TJ Warren. I mean, I saw him in the bubble score.
42:04 Fifty two points in the game when he was in Indiana. It's just over the last few years.
42:08 It's been totally injury prone. And you don't know in that situation.
42:15 I think you've got to question his toughness. Like, is he going to be one of those guys that's going to give you 50 games and that's it?
42:24 Like they need a healthy TJ Warren because TJ give you buckets.
42:29 Now, we all know that that's what TJ do. Stopping anybody rebound and over TJ give you buckets.
42:37 So does that threaten Sam Houser's role? Like Sam Houser to take a step forward and play and hit threes off the bench.
42:46 So I think you have to be careful when you bring in a guy like a TJ Warren who's like, oh, I'm playing right.
42:54 Like where are my minutes? And then you got Houser who had flashes, but then got into those doghouse joining Peyton Prichard and Grant Williams.
43:06 And that doghouse. And what is he capable of this year?
43:11 I more prefer Stevens for defensive presence, but I still do think they need more scoring punch off the bench.
43:19 And we still haven't talked about our friend who's still out there, Blake Griffin, who is steady.
43:26 He said, wow, Kwanee, you killed all that hope.
43:31 You killed that joy. Kwanee's like, no.
43:37 But to me, you know, do they do they need a Blake? Do they need another big?
43:47 They do. Yeah, I think they do.
43:50 You know, part of figuring out is he a veteran type big or is he a he's not a Robert.
43:58 Robert Williams is on this developmental path, so you don't want him too young.
44:03 Like someone right down the middle at this point, I think. Yeah.
44:06 Yeah. Rob's there in the peak of that whole development conversation.
44:10 We talk about him all the time, too. Yeah.
44:12 He is. This might be the time to to like seriously start investing in like a young big that you're going to spend two, three years from the jump.
44:21 No, you're going to need two to three years to develop this guy because Rob, you know, he is who he is.
44:26 And I don't know if he's going to get significantly better at this point.
44:29 There's things he does when he's healthy that no one on your squad do.
44:33 But there are things that you would hope that after being in the league for three, four or five years that he would do better than he's doing now.
44:40 He's still got no office at all.
44:43 And for a guy with that type of athleticism to not have one or two signature moves at the office of into the floor, it's a head scratcher.
44:52 It's a head scratcher. It is one of the to me, one of the biggest mysteries in Celtics whole development plan with their guys, because he's the one guy who hasn't developed in a way that logically makes sense.
45:04 Everyone else that they've had was a young player three, four years later. It makes sense. The pattern that they establish.
45:10 But Rob makes no sense at all. Yeah. All right. Well, that's all I have.
45:15 Are you are you good, Gary? You said everything you say. I am good. Have you had enough to eat, Gary?
45:22 Are you full, son? You need another. You know, you're not getting we're not coming to the picnic.
45:28 We're not bringing you to the picnic. So you just had to make sure you know what kind of box of wine you want to barbecue.
45:35 So we come in. All my homies are coming.
45:40 We appreciate the listeners for sticking around on this episode.
45:44 Maybe next week we'll find out if Cal has a new home.
45:48 That's what we call the TV. Thank you for listening to a list podcast for a short break.
45:53 I'm Blakely Gary Washburn. I'm playing on this. This is a list podcast again.
45:58 Thank you for listening. New fan to customers can bet five dollars and get 200 in bonus bets guaranteed.
46:06 Plus, all customers who bet five dollars will get one hundred dollars off NFL Sunday ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV.